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A review by captaincoods
Finders Keepers: A Tale of Archaeological Plunder and Obsession by Craig Childs
2.0
The subject of ethics in archaeology is fixed with stubbornness on both sides. I am trained in archaeology, so when I began this book I was expecting it to be wildly uninformed in the professional viewpoint. I was almost correct.
Just when the author appears to begin understanding the importance of context, he veers off into personal desires and "historicity". While Childs claims to know the importance of place, he continuously ignores its scientific benefits. The author seems to be fixed on the objects, not the context.
His degree of understanding in professional archaeology seems to be comparable to that friend from college who studied abroad for a couple weeks somewhere, then returns home claiming to know everything about the place. He has clearly had a taste of the scientific side of ethics, but no, I don't believe he understands it. If Childs did understand, i would hope he would not have portrayed many of the private collectors as he did in this book. I could go on forever about how dangerous this portrayal is to the already dismally uninformed public. But I wont. Childs is a good storyteller, but I would have rather him leave this subject alone.
Just when the author appears to begin understanding the importance of context, he veers off into personal desires and "historicity". While Childs claims to know the importance of place, he continuously ignores its scientific benefits. The author seems to be fixed on the objects, not the context.
His degree of understanding in professional archaeology seems to be comparable to that friend from college who studied abroad for a couple weeks somewhere, then returns home claiming to know everything about the place. He has clearly had a taste of the scientific side of ethics, but no, I don't believe he understands it. If Childs did understand, i would hope he would not have portrayed many of the private collectors as he did in this book. I could go on forever about how dangerous this portrayal is to the already dismally uninformed public. But I wont. Childs is a good storyteller, but I would have rather him leave this subject alone.